*Love*

I do. So far only my husband knows. My step kids are use to seeing me on some kind of diet or another, so we have been figuring out a few things to say about why I will be eating differently. They have already seen me start to eat less, cutting into small pieces, putting the fork down or eating with chopsticks. We only have them on alternate weekends. I won't lie to them, but I won't tell the whole truth either.

Well,….I survived. I am banded! I have a Cousin – Bioring band. I am assuming 10cc, since my wallet card says maximum recommended fill of 9cc. My husband & I left Waterloo around 8am & made it to the clinic in Toronto by 9:50. I was to check in at 10am. We had to wait for a while. Then we were taken to another room where I changed, got weighed, spoke to nurse Darrel, Dr. Yau, the anaesthesiologist, nutritionist Jill & surgery nurse Stephanie, with more waiting in between. I was dreading being force to take of my index finger nails. It’s painful & leaves them very sensitive. No one said anything about my gel nails (which are very transparent) with clear polish. I guess it wasn't a problem after all. I didn’t have a watch on but I think I was walked to surgery a half hour after the 11:00 scheduled start time. I felt the blood pressure cuff was on too tight & that I would bruise (did I ever). Apparently, it had to be that tight. Nurse Stephanie was a sweetheart. She held my hand while I whimpered as the 2 nausea drugs & the sleepy drug where put into the i.v. in my hand. It was quite unpleasant. Then I was out. No counting or anything. The next thing I remember was being asked to get up & walked to my double room. I have no memory of where I walked from. I assume it was the recovery room. I could not get warm, even with all the blankets they put on me. I had no pain, & surprisingly no nausea. My head was messed up though. At some point I got a roommate, who snored, so I didn’t sleep anymore. I had 2 little sips of Water. The surgery part seemed to be a breeze. I had felt the recovery would be a breeze too or hell. Well, it is not a breeze, but it is not hell either. Closer to a breeze then hell I’d say. J I was then dressed & walked out to the waiting room to my husband & then out to the car. I started coming out of the head fog about ¾ of the way home. I just wanted my bed. Important: When they tell you to take small sips, they mean tiny. The first thing I did when I got to bed was to take the crushed Demoral. My husband put a little water in a medicine cup & I took 3 small sips. Not good. L I can’t remember the feeling enough to explain it, but it didn’t go down. I thought I would throw up. There was a bit of foaming. I do remember I urgently needed my husband to burp me 3 times. Then I was fine. I think the rest of the day went well. I actually slept ok that night & didn’t need the pain meds during the night. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 2nd day was shoulder pain & some nausea. If I moved the wrong way I’d get a twinge at incision sites. Rolling out of bed helps. I don’t like the shoulder pain. It is definitely not gas related. I haven’t had much of that. The shoulder starts aching when I’ve sat up for a while, burp, hiccup, cough & sometimes when I swallow. I don't have any chest tightness. Somehow it is connected the band / stomach. I started the day on the clear fluids. The apple juice went down fine. The didn’t have the Endura at the clinic (they are couriering it), so I had the Pedialite the nutritionist suggested. I forced 3 servings of that down during the day, well actually my husband made me drink it. The chicken broth went down okay & I could only finish ½ the beef broth. I found them both strong. Half a cup of Jello seemed like a lot. The amount of liquids we are supposed to consume seems like way too much. I guess the meds have my head a little less clear than I though. I’d asked my husband the same question twice, with no memory of the first time. He walked me 3 slow laps around the back yard. I found out the hard way, that when you already have an upset stomached (ulcer) That certain crushed meds are horrible enough when they touch your tongue to make you gag. My insomnia medication is the worst thing I have ever tasted. The gagging set me off into uncontrollable dry heaves. My husband tried burping me again while I retched. It was awful. I just eventually stopped. I did end up having a rougher night after that, I hurt everything. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 3rd day, my husband was away on a course. He has everything set up for me on his bed. I had strict instructions that if I had any trouble I was to call 911. I was also to carry a phone if I went for a walk. I think the 2 eposides spooked my husband. He has been taking great care of me. I was still in pain all day from the incident the night before. I had more nausea. I was done with crushed medication. I make sure I can get a couple of sips of water or milk down before I swallow the pill, then I follow with a couple more sips. So far so good. I kept medicated & replaced the broths with skim milk. It helps sooth my ulcer. I also couldn’t stomach the Pedialite again, so I had one of the Pedialite freezies. They aren’t great, but much more tolerable than the liquid. I am also finding the Jello too sweet. But I am eating it, to put some volume in my new stomach. I did the 3slow laps around the backyard again, while my husband kept a close eye on me form the hot tub. I slept pretty well for about 6 hours last night, then on & off. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Today, day 4, I feel pretty good. Still medicating my shoulder pain. I am more alert, faster moving, better head space & stronger. I found my port. It’s under the bruise low in the picture on my profile. Well, I didn't get my port under my tattoo like I wanted. The band fastens to your stomach on the left side of your body. My tattoo is on the right side. My doctor pointed out that the tube would cross my body & would be cut if I ever needed a mid-line cut for surgery & would also be cut for appendix surgery. We agreed to putting it on the opposite side in the same position. I do know it is on my left side, but I don't think it is a low as I had hoped. I am a bit worried that it will be behind my belt...where I wanted to avoid. Today, I will shower! Yay! I was allowed to yesterday, but just wasn’t up to it. I will post a pic of my unbandaged belly in my profile, later today. I am no where near ready to wear clothes. I wear really pig flannel pj bottoms, a jacket, flip flops & sunglasses to go for my walks. I don’t understand why some people don’t lose weight in the first 4 weeks. I don’t see how I could possibly get enough down to gain. I am struggling to get enough in to keep my strength up.

Does anyone have their port below the bikini line? If so, do you like it there? Has it caused any problems with exercise etc?

Well, I didn't get my port under my tattoo like I wanted. The band fastens to your stomach on the left side of your body. My tattoo is on th right side. My doctor pointed out that the tube would cross my body & would be cut if I ever needed a mid-line cut for surgery & would also be cut for appendix surgery. We agreed to putting it on the opposite side in the same position. I do know it is on my left side, but I don't think it is a low as I had hoped. I haven't poked around to check yet. I am a bit worried that it will be behind my belt...where I wanted to avoid.

Has anyone else been told by their pre-op nurse that they have to remove their acrylic or gel nails off of both of their index fingers or they can't have surgery?

On surgery day, no one said anything about my gel nails (which are very transparent) with clear polish. I guess it wasn't a problem after all. :biggrin2:

I have gel nails, which are clearer than acrylic & I wear only clear polish, so I am hoping the next person I run into is more linient than the nurse I spoke to today & won't make me rip them off. It will hurt & my natural nails are very thin & sensitive afterwards. I also won't be able to get out to get them fixed...cuz I expect to be in bed a lot. I will take the appropriate tools just in case.

Caffeine withdrawal gives nasty headaches. Is that possibility?

Today is the first day of my pre-op diet: cottage cheese, yogurt, chicken, sole, fresh vegies. It's just 3 days, so it shouldn't be a problem. My surgery is Thursday! :biggrin2: I plan to attack each phase after surgery as an individual entity/challenge: 4 days of clear liquids, etc.

I cashed out my RRSPs (Retirement Savings Plan - similar to a 401k in the U.S., I believe)

I have see soooo many posts on surprise Hiatal Hernia repairs. How can one not know they have one? Are there no symptoms? Is there a possibility that not all these people actually have them, but a scam to increase the price of the surgery?

I am paying $18,000.

I do too. I believe it is meant for hospital emergency room use only. If they use the wrong type of needle, it will cut a tiny round hole in the port top & you will leak. The special band needles poke through the top & the opening re-seals itself when the needle is removed.

I have been going thru the 'last supper' phase for the last 5 weeks. Did anyone else do that? This week is the pre-period muchie week, soooo not helping! I start my 3 day pre-op diet on Monday.

Oops, my mistake. I mis-read again. I thought you wrote POST-Op. :biggrin:

What kind (make & model) of scale do you have?

I think the problem with eating solid foods too soon has to do with the movement the stomach makes to digest food (churning). It could rip out the stitches. I think the idea is to let the stitches heal before putting any force on them. I think liquids would pass through with out the digesting movement.

I think the problem with eating solid foods too soon has to do with the movement the stomach makes to digest food (churning). It could rip out the stitches. I think the idea is to let the stitches heal before putting any force on them. I think liquids would pass through with out the digesting movement.